Last month, we teamed up with famous chef, writer and broadcaster Rachel Khoo for some delicious summer recipes. Following her passion for patisserie, Rachel’s talent was quickly recognised when she first began working at the delightful Paris culinary bookstore and tea salon, La Cocotte. Rachel Khoo’s recent venture has been through the launch of her online lifestyle magazine Khoollect. The online lifestyle platform provides a creative space for those looking for inspiration. We wanted to hear more from Rachel Khoo herself, to find out what inspires her in the kitchen, as well as finding out a little bit more about her beauty routine…
Q. What motivated you to start your career in cookery?
Cooking combines two things that I’m very passionate about – being creative and being sociable. There aren’t many jobs where you can be creative and have your friends over to enjoy the product of your creativity.
Q. Who is your inspiration or role model?
For me, inspiration comes in all forms and sizes, and can often be found in the most surprising and unsuspecting of places. This is the reason I found my new project Khoollect, which finds inspiration in unlikely places and celebrates people doing interesting and extraodinary things.
I’m currently reading ‘Romantic Outlaws – The extraordinary lives of Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley’. It’s the biography of two remarkable women – Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, and her mother who in 1792 wrote ‘A vindication of the rights of woman’, a ground-breaking paper on the unfair laws and prejudices women faced in the 18th century. When you read books like this or meet people who, despite hardships succeed in life, it’s all the more inspiring to work harder to achieve your dreams.
Q. What would be your perfect summer holiday?
Sunshine, swimming and good food. Ideally somewhere that doesn’t require a long flight. I fly so much for work that I’ll avoid the airport at all costs.
Q. Talk us through your beauty routine…
I’m very busy working on Khoollect, so I try to keep my beauty routine as quick and simple as possible. When it comes to make-up, I always try to create a versatile look that can take me from our casual Khoollect office setting, to a meeting in central London, to a photo-shoot. Here’s a quick run-down on my morning routine:
I start with Caudalie instant foaming cleanser and a face cloth. I love the fresh fragrance and how gentle it is. Then I dabb on some Clarins double serum, followed by a moisturiser. I’m currently using Moisture Plus Revitalising Gel Lotion from Jurlique. I never leave the house without putting on factor 50 sunscreen. At the moment I’m using Skinceutical Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50. If I’m working from home then I won’t bother with makeup. I wear so much when I’m doing photoshoots and filming, so it’s nice to go without from time to time. But, on the days when I need a bit of cover, I’ll use Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion foundation, Smashbox bronze lights compact bronzer, and a slick of red lipstick. You can read about my favourite lipsticks over on Khoollect.
Q. What is your number one beauty secret?
Wear sunscreen all the time! Apart from in bed of course.
Q. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
As the famous poet Lord Tennyson said “Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all”. The same applies to your dreams and hopes. It’s better to have taken the risk and lost, than never tried at all. That’s why I’m putting a lot of energy into my new project Khoollect.
